Vetstreet Newsflash - Monday, September 19

If you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere. Experts are theorizing on how Willow, the calico cat found in Manhattan five years after disappearing from her Colorado home, made the 1,800-mile trek. “Count the ways,” one animal behavior consultant says. — Read it at The New York Times

Do Lazy Mammals Live Longer?

Small, furry animals that have a daily dose of hibernation in the winter are likely extending their life spans, a study published this week reports. By temporarily lowering their body temperature and metabolism, they stop or even reverse a natural breakdown of chromosomes linked to aging. — Read it at Discovery News

YouTube.com

‘Smoking Shirley’ the Orangutan Goes Cold Turkey

You may remember Shirley, the twentysomething primate who lit up on camera. Video of Shirley smoking cigarette butts that were thrown into her cage by visitors to a Malaysian zoo caused outrage when it hit the Web. Now, “Smoking Shirley” and other animals at the zoo have been seized after complaints of poor living conditions — and the orangutan was forced to kick her habit. — Read it at Animal Planet

‘Warranty’ for Puppies and Kittens Proposed

Under proposed legislation in Michigan, pet owners would get a money-back guarantee on dogs and cats who are sick or diseased. The law would apply only to dogs and cats sold for profit. — Read it at DVM360

Today.com

Dog Nurses Three White Tiger Cubs A dog at a wildlife park in China has been playing surrogate to the month-old cubs since their mother rejected them. — Watch the video from TODAY

Dog Balances Treats Jenga Style on Nose

In an amazing feat of balance and self-control, a Golden Retriever calmly holds what looks like 36 treats on his nose before he’s told to go for it. — Watch the video from Huffington Post

Making New York’s Glass Towers Safer for Birds

An estimated 90,000 birds are killed when they crash into buildings in New York City each year, according to New York City Audubon. Some groups are pressing for the use of decals, mesh screens or nets, but they’re a tough sell. — Read it at The New York Times